Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Fw: [catholicACT] pope a pacifist?
From: Matthew Tan Yew Hock
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 4:10 AM
Subject: Re: [catholicACT] pope a pacifist?
Welcome back !
Alternative to military action: ideological war, propaganda, economic development, rooting out injustices and resolving grievances - the way you fight the Cold War against communism, which is no less evil and no less potent. Communism is defeated not through war, but through the above-mentioned peaceful means. (And some say, the Pope played a part !) What human disaster it would be, if there was war between the ex-Soviet Union and U.S.
Ideological war is the war to be fought among the Muslims themselves, the moderates against the terrorists. What the West can do is to support and strengthen the moderates - the majority.
I believe the Pope has a point. There will be no end to this violence if war is pursued. And the cost for humanity is too great. The Iraq war/insurgency has cost Americans more than 1,000 lives, and still growing. Not counting the innocent Iraqis.
Read the "Just war" doctrine spelt out in the Catechism of Catholic Church.
~~~
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Tan Yew Hock (Matthew)
----- Original Message -----From: Christopher EngelsmaSent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 12:50 AMSubject: [catholicACT] pope a pacifist?
Dear Friends;
I found the following article on www.ourladyswarriors.com.
It appears that the pope is opposed to using military force to counter
terrorism. Now if military force isn't used, what does that leave us with?
How can we oppose evil if we can't use guns? Is there another option?
Clearly, negotiating with terrorists or trying to appease them is futile. I
think the pope messed up bigtime on this one.
Thanks,
Chris E.
Pope opposes military response to terrorism
Milan, Sep. 08 (CWNews.com) - At a major international conference in Milan
this week, two prominent Vatican official have acknowledged the need for a
military campaign to eliminate terrorism. But Pope John Paul II (bio - news)
is not ready to endorse a military response.
The Pope called for firm action against terrorism, but insisted that warfare
is not the best approach, in a statement released on Wednesday, September 8.
The Pope's message was delivered to an international conference organized by
the St. Egidio community, meeting in Milan this week. Earlier, Cardinal
Renato Martino had said that the battle against terrorism is, in effect, a
worldwide war. And Cardinal Walter Kasper (bio - news) had said that the
response to terrorism would surely include military action.
John Paul II reminded the conference participants that in 1993, at another
meeting in Milan, world religious leaders had united in a call for peace,
insisting that violence should never be motivated by religious faith.
Since that time, the Pope observed, "unfortunately, new conflicts have
arisen." But he insisted: "Peace is always possible!"
The spread of terrorism across the world "calls for firmness and decision,
in fighting the workers of death," the Pope said. But he quickly added that
the decisive action against terrorism should not take the form of a military
campaign. "Violence begets violence," he said. "War must always be
considered a defeat: a defeat of reason and of humanity." He argued that
world leaders should seek to root out the primary causes of terrorism,
"especially misery, desperation and the emptiness in hearts."
John Paul II urged international leaders "not to give in to the logic of
violence, vendetta, and hatred, but rather to persevere in dialogue." He
concluded by expressing the hope that "men soon make a spiritual and
cultural leap forward to outlaw war!"
